Functional pottery for the everyday Albertan is the theme for the upcoming exhibit at the Crooked Pot Gallery in Stony Plain.

Brenda Wylie has been creating pottery pieces since she and her daughter took their first pottery class through the Parkland Potters Guild in Stony Plain eight years ago. Now she is about to have her third showing at The Crooked Pot Gallery and she says she could not be more excited.

“The first time I was terrified, but I’m getting a little more used to, it a little more prepared.” Said Wylie.

The theme for this exhibit are all things that remind Wylie of Alberta. She said she asked her friends and family what they think about when they think of Alberta and she used the answers of lakes, mountains and oilfields to fuel her inspiration.

“Farming is huge in our family, there are just so many things that inspire me about the province and I’m a proud Albertan.”

Taking her first course was a bucket list item for Wylie, she saw the advertisement for classes in the newspaper and thought it sounded like fun. Now, eight years later, she has her own wheel, kiln and is making her own glazes at home.

“You take a couple classes and next thing you know your husband is buying you a wheel for Christmas,” she said.

She admits that she was no prodigy, as she said most of those first items where so heavy you could kill a mugger with them. The goal of her first class was to make a mug to drink coffee from.

“It’s the most hideous thing you’ve seen in your life. I keep it just to remind myself how far I’ve come because it is truly ugly. I think I’ve drank out of it once, it was terrible, but I learned so much from that mug.”

The exhibition begins on Sept. 3 and runs until Sept. 30. Those interested in meeting and speaking with Wylie about her work can attend the artist reception on Sept. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The exhibit is at the Crooked Pot Gallery in Stony Plain at 4912 51 Ave.